Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Alyson Noël | A Secret Academy for Time Traveling Art Thieves
Author Guest / June 29, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? RULING DESTINY   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?  RULING DESTINY is the sequel to STEALING INFINITY – a sexy, thrilling, fast-paced tale about a teen with an unusual gift who’s sent to a secret academy for time traveling art thieves, only to find herself caught in an elaborate puzzle of history and time where she just might be one of the missing pieces…RULING DESTINY picks up right where STEALING INFINITY left off, with the romance hotter and the stakes even higher. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?  I loved the idea of an opulent, off the grid academy, where the students live among priceless pieces of art, and where every luxury they could ever desire is theirs for the taking. The only catch is they can never leave, except when they’re sent back in time to steal precious jewels and art.   4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?  When we first met Natasha, she’s a lot like I was at that age. My high school years were tough, filled with struggle and financial hardships. Like her, I was ditching…

Paige E. Ewing | Conversations in Character with Liliana
Author Guest / June 15, 2023

Book Title: PRECISE OATHS, Liliana and the Fae of Fayetteville Book 1 Character Name: Liliana   “Hi! I’m Sadie with Safe Paths magazine. We write a guidebook for people who are a little, you know, different. It’s to find Other-friendly businesses when they travel. You’ve been recommended by, um, let me see … “ The tall woman in the sharp pants suit checked her wrist phone. “Janice Willoughby. She said you were a person who runs a local business that’s welcoming to those of the non-Normal persuasion?” Yes. I do run a local business that’s welcoming to Others.   I was wondering if I could interview you? I’d like to ask you some questions, so my readers can get to know you and what you do here. Oh. That’s fine then. I’m used to answering questions. Come into my business space and sit down.   This is your business? I thought it was your home. (She settles into a chair by a round table with a crystal ball in the center, and sets her wrist phone to record the conversation.) It’s both. This room used to be a formal dining room, but I changed its purpose. Now, it is my…

Nick Stitle | Seven Violent Tempests Rule the World
Author Guest / May 18, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? STORMLESS is the title of my latest – and first – release! 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Stormless takes place in the world of Auris, where seven violent Tempests rule the world, wreaking havoc across the continent. This high fantasy epic has three storylines. The first follows Castien Varic as he embarks on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth behind a rising threat. The second follows Faelyn Titansworn, prince of the capital city and heir to the throne, as he uncovers his own conspiracy. Finally, the third follows Asteros Silverglade as he uncovers ancient secrets two years in the past. All these storylines intertwine, of course, and come together in an exciting climax. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I created the world of Auris specifically for Stormless. This world ended up being the perfect setting for Stormless because Auris is dangerous, magical, and unique, matching the tone of the story. There were several changes that I made to the story because of something I wanted to add to the world and vice versa. I like to think that the setting of…

Rebecca Yarros | An Elite War College for Dragon Riders
Author Guest / May 4, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? FOURTH WING 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? An elite war college for dragon riders where the foremost rule is graduate or die. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Answer: It seemed natural to lean into the background of my military family and lean into a war college setting. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. She’s a lot like me. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Resilient, tenacious, smart 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? The physical differences between dragons and wyvern in western mythology. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? Both? I edit as I draft for the first half, then keep a list and go back after the draft is complete for the second half. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Chips & queso 9–Describe your writing space/office! It’s centrally located in my house, which is awesome because I’m easily accessible to my kids, but also tough because it’s so accessible to my kids, lol! It’s really ergonomic to help with my connective tissue disorder and has…

Vera Bell | Past Life Visions and a Serial Killer
Author Guest / April 13, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? THROUGH THE VENEER OF TIME 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A haunted painter’s past life visions are not the creative inspiration they seemed. They’re a harbinger of her ancient revenge vow, and her FBI husband won’t find the serial killer until she fulfills it. But it may already be too late.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I hope this isn’t too weird. It was my first experience with Past Life Regression (PLR). I’ve always had this inexplicable (slightly weird) fascination with Ireland. As long as I remember, I’ve longed for Ireland, even before I knew what that misty emerald place in my dreams was called or why Celtic art and music touched something deep within my soul. Still, as an adult, I approached PLR with an entirely open mind and a sincere intent to meet and experience whatever it would bring. The outcome was startling—a vivid encounter with colors, sounds, smells, textures, even temperature, and my visceral knowledge and feelings that went beyond the immediate. It was a highly charged situation, happening to someone who didn’t look like me, yet was…

Juliet E. McKenna | A Female Perspective on Arthurian Legend
Author Guest / April 13, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE CLEAVING 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Men have told King Arthur’s story for centuries. Now the women have their say. 3—Does your book take place in Camelot? Partly, but this story starts in Winchester and soon moves to Tintagel. Later on, the reader sees other places besides Camelot. Arthur isn’t the center of the world for these women. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Definitely. Nimue would be a fascinating person to talk to, though it’s hard to imagine her kicking off her shoes and unwinding over a glass of wine. Meeting for coffee and a chat seems more her style. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Observant, quick-witted, determined. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? When I went back to the earliest versions of the stories about King Arthur, I discovered so many enchanted swords and otherworldly encounters. Recent retellings, especially in film and TV, have aimed for ‘realism’ (whatever that means), taking them far away from the mystery and magic. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I start each writing day…

J.G. Sauer | A Magickal Royal Scepter and a Fairy Tale to Sell
Author Guest / April 6, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? MADNESS THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – Book 2 in the Looking Glass series. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Down the rabbit hole and back out through the looking glass with a magickal Royal Scepter and a fairy tale to sell. What if little Alice’s story was true? What if ‘Wonderland’ with all those enchanting characters was a real place? Alice’s descendant found out the hard way in book 1 …however, the story has only begun … 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I built my vision of ‘wonderland’ on how it I saw it in my head. It exists in a parallel dimension – you only have to find a portal, some of which are right there in plain sight. Of course, you have to know where to look—or look with your inner child’s eyes. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! To have a bestie like Ally who’s the descendant of the original Alice, who knows where ‘wonderland’ is and how to get there? Fabulous! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Ally surprised me in so…

Anne Bishop | Conversations in Character with Daemonar Yaslana, Eyrien Warlord Prince
Author Guest / March 9, 2023

Book Title: THE QUEEN’S PRICE Character Name: I am Daemonar Yaslana, Eyrien Warlord Prince.                                 I am Liath! I am a Sceltie Warlord Prince. I help Daemonar herd the young humans living at SaDiablo Hall.   1.) How would you describe your family or your childhood? We are a complicated family because not everyone who is considered family is also related by bloodlines. We are the most powerful and the wealthiest family in the Realm of Kaeleer. My uncle, who is the High Lord of Hell, is the family’s patriarch, and his word is law. That’s the surface truth of the SaDiablo-Yaslana family. The other truth is my father and uncle are very strict about children following the rules and respecting the Blood’s code of honor because they believe power should be tethered to acting responsibly for the sake of everyone around us. They also believe that children should have fun, and if a dash of mischief is part of the fun, they tend to look the other way as long as no one gets hurt. My mother is a hearth witch and a loom artist, so she is the softer side of the family—unless she gets riled. Even my…

Hannah Whitten | Exclusive Excerpt: THE FOXGLOVE KING
Excerpt / March 9, 2023

CHAPTER ONE No one is more patient than the dead. —Auverrani proverb   Every month, Michal claimed he’d struck a deal with the landlord, and every month, Nicolas sent one of his sons to collect anyway. The sons must’ve drawn straws—this month’s unfortunate was Pierre, the youngest and spottiest of the bunch, and he trudged up the street of Dellaire’s Harbor District with the air of one approaching a guillotine. Lore could work with that. A dressing gown that had seen better days dripped off one shoulder as Lore leaned against the doorframe and watched him approach. Pierre’s eyes kept drifting to where the fabric gaped, and she kept having to bite the inside of her cheek so she didn’t laugh. Apparently, a crosshatch of silvery scars from back-alley knife fights didn’t deter the man when presented with bare skin. She had other, more interesting scars. But she kept her palm closed tight. A cool breeze blew off the ocean, and Lore suppressed a shiver. Pierre didn’t seem to spare any thought for why she’d exited the house barely dressed when mornings near the harbor always carried a chill, even in summer. An easy mark in more ways than one. “Pierre!”…

The Character Most Likely – Jennifer Estep – CONQUER THE KINGDOM
Author Guest / March 9, 2023

To celebrate Jennifer Estep’s new “Gargoyle Queen” book CONQUER THE KINGDOM, we here at Fresh Fiction thought it would be a fun way for readers to get to know her characters better (from her many many fab books) to play a little game we call “The Character Most Likely”. I love this because it satisfies my romance nerd self. If you’re new to her Gargoyle Queen series – It’s a mix of magic, adventure, and romance. The result often combines chaos and eroticism in a satisfying way. Jennifer is free to select her answers from any of her paranormal series. Most likely to figure out a way to use an enemy’s strength against him? ANSWER: Vesper Quill from ONLY BAD OPTIONS. Vesper is an inventor/engineer who works in the research and development lab for a large corporation, so she is always dreaming up ways to make brewmakers, blasters, and other objects better, faster, and stronger. Sooner or later, she would figure out how to turn her enemy’s strength into a weakness.   Most likely to prefer using strategy or magic rather than swords or other instruments of battle? ANSWER: Reiko Yamato from CONQUER THE KINGDOM. Reiko is a spy at…